Animated “Lord of the Rings” Film Releases Trailer
The trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has been released, set 183 years before the events of the original films, focusing on the epic battle led by King Helm Hammerhand.
Released on August 22, the trailer introduces the rivalry between Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Brian Cox) and the Dunlendings. After Helm’s kingdom is attacked by the army of Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino) — the Dunlending chieftain seeking revenge for his father’s death — Helm and his people must defend the ancient fortress of Hornburg, later known as Helm’s Deep.
In addition to the male characters, viewers are introduced to Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise), the daughter of the king, who was once courted by Wulf. In the direst moments, she becomes the kingdom’s beacon of hope, using her strength and intelligence to outwit their enemies.
The film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with a screenplay by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Alongside Brian Cox and Gaia Wise, the voice cast includes Luke Pasqualino, Laurence Ubong Williams, and Shaune Dooley. Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn, the warrior of Rohan, who also serves as the narrator. Like The Hobbit series, this project is a prequel to the original films.
In the early 2000s, Warner Bros. adapted J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings into a trilogy of films. The first installment begins with Bilbo Baggins passing the magical ring to his nephew, Frodo Baggins. Frodo, along with his companions, forms the Fellowship of the Ring with the mission to destroy the powerful artifact.
The trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion at the box office, becoming one of the most successful film franchises ever. Critically acclaimed, the films won 17 Oscars out of 30 nominations.
In 2022, Amazon invested $465 million into the first season of their Lord of the Rings series, setting a record budget for television production, with approximately $250 million spent on acquiring the rights to the books. According to Screen Rant, Warner Bros.’ new projects are expected to be direct competitors to Amazon’s series. Along with the animated film, a feature about Gollum, titled The Hunt for Gollum, is set to release in 2026, with Andy Serkis directing and starring.
